as compared to the three lobed pepper. Other varieties include Early Calwonder, Gator Bell,

Jupiter and Shamrock (Hochmuth, 1988b).


Cultural Practices

 Double cropping is practiced in pepper production in order to use plastics or residual

 fertilizers and chemicals. In west Palm Beach County double cropping may include an onion

 or bean crop. When double cropping with beans, planters seed beans into the bed between the

 pepper holes. When double cropping with onions, onion transplants are installed by hand. In

 the Immokalee area, squash and cucumber have been used as a double crop with pepper.

 The cultural practices for pepper production are very similar to tomato production. The

primary production method for pepper in the Palm Beach area is a full-bed mulch system with

seepage irrigation. Full-bed mulch production with seep irrigation requires that all soil

additives, such as fumigants and fertilizers, be added prior to the application of plastics. The

following is a sequence of operations that may be used in full-bed mulch production with seep

irrigation. First, the field should be plowed and disked to turn under old crop residue in order

to reduce detrimental soil organisms. Second, leveling of the field is required for proper

drainage and irrigation. Third, the soil should be analyzed for any additional additives required,

such as lime or sulfur for pH adjustment. Fourth, initial fertilizer application should be

completed, including all micronutrient and phosphorous (P) requirements and 10 to 15 percent

of total nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) requirements. Additional amounts can be applied

through an injection wheel as needed (Hochmuth, 1988b). Fifth, bedding (shape the bed),

fumigation, and application of fertilizer are done prior to the application of plastic. Advantages

of plastic include increased weed control, moisture retention, and reduced loss to leaching of